If you are already an avid runner, aerobics enthusiastic, or faithful to the treadmill or elliptical, you need not read on.  If you are less inclined to cardiovascular exercise, then this is for you.  I have always been very good about the other side of exercise.  I will drag myself up early in the morning and do yoga, pilates, or gentle arm work, and I live a fairly active lifestyle.  Lately, I have felt like something is just missing.  I have been falling in to old patterns that do not serve me well.  My clothes are not fitting me.  I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me.

Then, one day last week, it dawned on me that I wasn’t doing any form of cardiovascular exercise.  Now obviously, I know I should be doing this and I recommend it to people all the time, but I wasn’t.  I got out and jumped on my mini-trampoline and did some vigorous hula hooping and I felt amazing!  I have continued to do some form of cardiovascular exercise every day since and I feel like I am being transformed.  I have stopped all those yucky patterns I get in to, I have released another layer of emotional junk, I am sleeping extremely soundly, I have more energy, and my mood is more stable.  Seriously, after only a few days!

This is what my trampoline looks like:

Some people come to me feeling so bad.  We go through the history and often, there is no self-care.  They are not drinking enough water, they are eating poorly, and they are not getting out and moving their bodies. If they can make changes in these areas, sometimes that is all they need.  I know it seems obvious, but why are so many of us not caring for ourselves and how do we get motivated and stick to it?  Why would I, with all my background, knowledge, etc., not be exercising properly?  It could be a lot of reasons, but we have to do it!  We have to make that one step toward self-care that gets us moving and often the rest of the things we should be doing will follow.

For me, that one step was getting back into exercise that gets my blood pumping.  We know we should exercise for a healthy weight, to fight cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and keep our blood pressure low, but we need to remember all the positive effects exercise has on our brains.  It is thought to increase norepinephrine, which could decrease depression and anxiety.  Exercise can help us respond to stress better, increase our perception of ourselves, and decrease negative thinking.  I have to say, after even just one work-out, I experienced most of this.

Now, I could beat myself up for not recognizing this sooner and I could wallow in the fact that I know better. Or, I could just be happy I figured it out and enjoy how much better I am already feeling.  I could ride the tide of these good feelings and keep on going.  That is exactly what I am going to do.  Are you stuck in a slump? Are your clothes too tight? Are you feeling less zest for life?  You know they next question…are you getting cardiovascular exercise?  If not, try it!  Do not guilt yourself for anything in the past and just get up and get that blood pumping.  It doesn’t have to be 2 hours at the gym, just walk, ride a bike, hula hoop, or dance around your house.  I am sure it will make a big difference!

In addition to my locally made hoops, I use this hoop and the video that comes with it:

Please share your thoughts and stories about this in the comment section below.  I would love to hear your struggles to get this going and your successes once you do.  Just take that first step now!